Gujo Odori in Aoyama: Traditional Summer Dance Festival from Gifu to Tokyo

The summer tradition of Gifu Prefecture returns to the Aoyama district of Tokyo this year. "Gujo Odori in Aoyama" will be held over two days, June 26 (Friday) and 27 (Saturday), 2026, at a special venue in the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium parking lot in Minato Ward, Tokyo.

Performers and musicians from the Gujo Hachiman preservation society in Gifu will travel to Tokyo to recreate the energetic atmosphere of authentic Gujo Odori in the heart of the city. As a popular summer event attracting tens of thousands of participants, it aims to showcase Gifu's traditional culture.

Event Overview: Dates: June 26, 2026 (Fri) 17:00-20:30, June 27 (Sat) 17:00-20:00 Local Product Sales: 15:00 until dance ends on both days. Venue: Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Parking Lot (2-8-35 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo) Access: 3-minute walk from Exit 3 of Gaienmae Station on the Ginza Line. Organizer: Gujo Hachiman Tourism Association Admission: Free Activities: Live performances by the Gujo Odori Preservation Society, sale of Gujo delicacies (Meiho Ham, sake, vegetables, ayu fish), and traditional crafts (dance clogs).

What is Gujo Odori? It is a traditional Bon dance with about 400 years of history in Gujo Hachiman, Gifu Prefecture. It is one of the "Three Major Bon Dances in Japan," known as the "longest Bon dance in Japan," and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The main attraction is that it is a "participatory dance" rather than a performance.